Dear Colleagues,

Through the efforts of Prof. Ahmed Elzawawy, ICEDOC (International Campaign for the Establishment and Development of Oncology) was founded September 24-25, 1996, in Vienna, Austria.ICEDOC provides free consultation and advice to authorities, colleagues, and cancer patients on volunteer basis through "ICEDOC's Experts in Cancer Without Borders"(www.icedoc.org), which is active in the developing world.

To further its mission of oncology education, ICEDOC established SEMCO (South and East Mediterranean College of Oncology) on October 12, 2006.Its aim is to organise professional and public educational courses, meetings, training and research in different fields related to cancer in the region. We believe that any regional scientific and medical activity should rise from the region itself.

SEMCO, in collaboration with ASCO, successfully organised its first conference and advisory council meeting April 5-6, 2007, in Cairo, Egypt. Attendees to the ASCO Multidisciplinary Cancer Management Course (MCMC) increased their understanding of utilizing all disciplines of cancer care to better treat their patients.As a result of this course, it was decided to hold the Second ASCO-SEMCO MCMC Course in Izmir, Turkey.

Once again thanks to Prof. Hussein Khaled, President of SEMCO and Dean of NCI Cairo; Prof. Ahmed Elzawawy, President of ICEDOC and Executive Director of SEMCO; Prof. Joe Harford, Director, International Affairs Office, NCI, USA; Dr. Mohammed Meshref, General ASCO Coordinator; Ms. Wanda Sheridan, ASCO Education Program Manager, Ms.Vanessa Eaton, ASCO Program Coordinator; and the faculty members of the course for their kind contribution and support in the planning of this course.

We offer a warm welcome to all oncology colleagues, especially the younger members of our community in this region and look forward to seeing you in Cesme, Izmir, Turkey, in Altinyunus, a wonderful holiday village surrounded by history and nature.

Munir KINAY